Four Superlatives: Virginia

October 29, 2006|By DARRYL SLATER Daily Press

PLAY OF THE GAME

With 1:31 left in the game, tailback Jason Snelling ran 17 yards for his second touchdown of the game and put Virginia up 14-7. The play, named 38 Colt, called for Snelling to drift outside the tackles. But when a huge hole opened up the middle, he hit it and broke a tackle before going into the end zone. Snelling, a fifth-year senior, finished with 99 yards on 20 carries. He has struggled with health issues throughout his career, but Virginia coach Al Groh said Snelling is now healed up.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

DE Chris Long. He was credited with just three tackles, but that included two for a loss and one sack that moved N.C. State back 13 yards. Long also broke up a pass. He was more disruptive than the numbers show, as he tormented left tackle James Newby all afternoon. Long, a co-captain, is beginning to shine this season, and soon enough, folks might know him as more than just Son of Howie.

WHAT WE LEARNED

That QB Jameel Sewell has the chops to pull off a game-winning touchdown drive. He wasn't sharp throughout the game. But he pulled it together for a nine-play, 80-yard march that was capped off by Snelling's 17-yard touchdown run. Though Sewell is just a redshirt freshman, he has shown the poise -- and more importantly, the skills and mobility -- to catch on quickly and fight through mistakes.

WHAT THEY NEED TO WORK ON

Consistently sustaining drives. This issue plagued Virginia earlier in the season, when quarterbacks Christian Olsen and Kevin McCabe struggled as the starters and Sewell sputtered in his first few games. The problem resurfaced Saturday. Virginia had touchdown drives of 75 and 80 yards but gained just 9.6 yards per drive on its other 10 drives.